NEW YORK — The married NYPD cop accused of plotting to cook and eat women claimed he was a "true gentleman" in online dating profiles.
Gilberto Valle, 28, an officer in Morningside Heights' 26th Precinct, posted grinning photos of himself in uniform, along with promises that "chivalry is huge with me," on a recent dating profile.
Valle was arrested Wednesday after federal investigators uncovered his plan to kidnap women, stuff them into his oven and eat their body parts, according to court documents.
One of Valle's dating profiles, last updated in September, listed his favorite foods as "Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese…. I'll try anything and am not picky at all."
His favorite book is Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham."
"It's about a guy named Sam who makes this new breakfast and tries to get his neighbor to try it," Valle wrote. "After many failed attempts, the neighbor finally eats it and to his surprise he really likes it. The Doctor's message in his literary work is that it is good to try new things. I try and employ it in my everyday life."
Valle also said he often thinks about "the past day at work and how screwed up people are."
Other photos Valle posted show him wearing a Yankees cap and singing karaoke with friends.
Valle listed himself as "seeing someone" on his profile, and neighbors said he was married with a newborn daughter.
Valle attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens and then studied psychology, criminology and criminal justice at the University of Maryland, according to online records.
Valle's mother, Elizabeth Valle, posted a photo of her son in his graduation robes on Facebook, with the comment, "that was one of the proudest moments of my life."
Outside her Queens home on Thursday, Valle's mother told DNAinfo.com New York, "I don't want to speak with you. I need to find out what happened to my son."
A neighbor of Elizabeth Valle said she told him she believes "it's a setup."
The neighbor, who did not give his name, described Gilberto Valle as "straight as an arrow."
"He just had a baby — it doesn't add up," the neighbor added. "It makes no sense."
Rafael Marichal, 33, the handyman in Valle's Forest Hills building, was also shocked by the arrest.
"I'm very surprised," Marichal said. "He looked very nice. He doesn't look crazy."
Valle was charged with conspiracy to kidnap and accessing a computer without authorization. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Valle's dating profile listed him as more pure, old-fashioned and independent than other men, and less sex-driven, spontaneous, kind, scientific and progressive. Based on online quizzes, his dating persona was "The Slow Dancer" and the Billy Joel song that most resembled him was "Italian Restaurant."
"I am sociable, ambitious, and a gentleman," Valle wrote. "I am mature beyond my years."
"I will spoil the heck out of you if I like ya :)," he added.
Valle's Facebook page showed several hundred friends, photos of his pet bulldog Dudley and photos of a baby that were posted about a week ago.
According to his mother's Facebook page, Valle and his wife were expecting a baby in October 2011.
Valle also recently "liked" memorial pages for slain Nassau County cops Arthur Lopez and Josephi Olivieri.
With reporting by Carla Zanoni, Nigel Chiwaya and Heather Holland.
